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Tuesday, September 6, 2011

... and for some time now, has been to make a quilt without having to bind it. I thought it wise to start with a small project to trial this method of quilt making. And naturally you can't stop at just one ...

I am sure it wasn't an original thought, and it wasn't even necessarily a process that would be time saving. It was more to create a different, sleeker and perhaps modern look to something that is steeped in tradition. For someone like me, who dutifully binds quilts and is comfortable with the process, it is even a little outside of my comfort zone.

Much of the process is the same as usual and I started by making a simple quilt top. I've used fabrics from the Tidbits and Treasures fabric collection by Linda Jenkins and Becky Goldsmith from Piece O' Cake Designs ( as previously posted inSunday Stash #107)as well as a few added extras.

I then pin basted the quilt top together with a layer of batting, but no backing fabric. It is at this stage a quilt sandwich of just two layers: the quilt top and the batting. There really is no avoiding the basting process.

I then thought it beneficial to stabilize these two layers, and stitched in the ditch along three vertical seam lines and four horizontal seam lines. These stitching lines disappear into the seam line and are really there just to ensure that these two layers don't shift.

Once I had finished the foundation "in the ditch" quilting lines, I removed the basting pins, trimmed off any excess batting and then zig zagged around the edge of the quilt.

It then measured the quilt sandwich and cut the backing fabric to the exact same size. The backing fabric and the quilt sandwich were then pinned right sides together and I stitched around the outer edges with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, reinforcing the corners by stitching back and forth several times. I left a gap large enough to be able to turn the quilt inside out.

I stitched around the edges of the quilt to stabilize the edges, and then quilted it with straight lines. I tried to ensure that the quilting lines were unbroken, turning at the edge of the quilt rather than having to cut the threads and bury the ends in the batting.

Backing fabric from Picnics and Fairgrounds by Denyse Schmidt

This method of making a quilt without binding worked well for these relatively small quilts. I do love the look of the these quilt edges but I can't be too sure that it is a time saving technique (as compared machine stitched binding). Of course, it isn't always about saving time.

Oops, lengthy post! Feel free to email me or ask questions in the comments sections about this tutorial.

I've been wanting to make a quilt without binding for a while now but it just seemed like a lot more work!! I love the clean look though, I may just have to give it a try. Thanks for the reminder Rita!

I have a large postage stamp quilt that was made by my great grandmother almost 70 years ago and it is not bound. It appears that she turned the edges in 1/4" and did a whipstitch all around the quilt.

This quilt has been used, although not excessively, but the edges are coming open. I think the method you have used will definitely allow for more durability, but I still think a double fold binding will allow for more durability. I fear I may have to put a double-fold binding on it to ensure it doesn't fall apart.

Stephanie, i hope that you will take the time to put a binding on your vintage quilt. Your great-grand children will thank you in another 70 years!!I do love this quilt though, how do you finish the open end?

Wonderfully colorful quilts! This is a method I use frequently for flannel blankets or small baby quilts. I do find it faster than binding, and I think it makes for a nice edge too! Sometimes I use a decorative stitch on my machine to sew around the edge for a fancy touch!

nice work; that's how i did baby quilts i tied -- made a *pillowcase,* like you, sewed around the side, leaving some open to turn, turned the quilt, then stitched around the edged and tied the quilt ... i never thought of this for *real* quilts, quilts that ya'll *quilt* ... LOL ... thanks, rita, your work is always inspirational ... darlene

You always bring something new and fresh to quilting and I love seeing what you are going to do next. Thanks for sharing this tutorial! I am new to quilting and binding is something I struggle with, but I will have to give this a try.

I really love how it turned out. I think this is a method I would use with a more colorful quilt where I have difficulty in finding a binding that I think complements the quilt. Yours turned out beautifully!

such a coincidence! I was just wondering last week if this was possible! I hate binding. Hate hate hate, and I rarely bind without at least one mistake, which requires alot of stitch removal. Why did you zig zag stitch around the top before you sewed the back right side up?

love it!I've been making quilts without binding too, and it works great with table runners, mug rugs and any mini quilts...love your tip about stitch the batting with the top, that is very clever!thanks for sharing Rita!

What a great concept! You're right, a modern spin on an age-old tradition -- I am new to quilting and it never even crossed my mind to do one without binding -- I love it! Thanks for sharing your tutorial, I will definitely be giving this a try in the future!

These quilts are so "happy" and cheerful with all their color! Great job, as always. Interesting idea to finish a quilt without a binding, and a quick solution to the last minute quilt for disaster donation quilts. I'd like to know what fabric line the large flower print is a part of? It is a beautiful print and stunning in these quilts. Please let us know if you can! Thanks!

Thirty-five years ago I made "pillow case" baby blankets for all the showers I was invited to. I even put eyelet lace into the outer seam for some of them. My trick was to back it with a gingham check and use that as a guide for tying the quilt. I still have the first one which was given to me after my 35 year old son was born. Glad to see the idea resurrected.

This is great and I'm not sure I would have ever tried it until seeing it here. A lot of my quilts have white backgrounds, though so I worry about the white edges getting dirty with no binding to protect them. Of course, a quick border would take care of that! :)

My husband's grandmother made all her quilts we have without binding and our son sleeps under one she made for his dad. I love the addition of machine quilting as she tied all hers. I'm curious about the hold of the stitches and will have to give it a go!

Thanks for posting this---I am a beginner quilter and this method is much less scary to me---Question: how far apart do you put your pins when sewing the two layers together. I seem to have some slippage, so I must not be putting in enough pins! Thanks.

I Love the Look of this Quilt! New to Quilting, what Brand and type of Batting did you use that is didn't get caught up in the feet of your sewing Machine? when you just sewed the two pieces together? Thanks very much for sharing!Huggs, Nancy

I did this method with a full sized t-shirt quilt that I made for my daughter. It worked out very well. After flipping the quilt, we (she and I) pinned it evenly across and used a wool yarn to tie it. Instead of using batting I used a plaid flannel sheet for the backing, it made the quilt reversible and gave me a pattern to follow for tying the yarn.

I am looking at this and remembering that this is how I made my first quilt about 30ish years ago....I had forgotten all about it as over the years since I have learnt a number of different ways of binding etc. But this is so easy and does look lovely. I will certainly be trying it out again. Thank you!

Love this idea and the results. I do think it would be a time-saver, as just making the binding takes time - let alone sewing it on just right. I actually did this technique with dog "beds" for my local shelter, but I didn't first sew top and batting together. I just sewed all 3 layers together at the same time. Is this extra step necessary if you've pinned very well? Maybe it would be wise when working on something sizeable.

Thanks for the tutorial, just love it! I am working on charity quilts and the binding process just takes too long and too much fabric that I could be using for other quilts! so this idea is just PERFECT!

I love this! I remembered seeing this on pinterest and wanated to do it to the quilt I'm making now, but I already quilted all three layers. I never would of imagined the method you used. Oh well next project.

So I did something kinda like this last night on my quilt that I had already quilted. It turned out great and I put it in my new blog. Here is the link, it has a link back to this. http://rednecksoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/10/non-binding-binding.html

Just to give you some info the reason you use a bias tape to bind the quilt is because the edge of the quilt takes the most beating. With a bias edge you dont have as much rubbing on one thread on the edge. If you ever have an old quilt look at it and you can see what I'm talking about. the treads are crossing instead of running all along the edge

I love this technique. I wish I'd found your blog and tutorials sooner. I made myself a 'quillow' for travelling and used this method and it worked a treat as I was able to make the quilt in a couple of days in fits and starts. Instead of hand stitching the opening once I had turned it through, I sewed around the quilt a bit under a 1/4 inch from the edge to catch the opening and hold down the seam allowance.Great tutorial, with great tips in it.

Thank You so much for this tutorial on the binding-less method of quilting! For months now, I have been directing my volunteers to this specific post on how to complete our preemie quilt kits! ~Samantha DeMato, Founder of March of the Blanketeers